Good Luck Flash

Good Luck “Flash”
August 18, 2008
By Thomas R. Chace

Last Tuesday, after a rigorous and exhaustive search, the NY Islanders named AHL coach of the year, Scott Gordon, as their new head coach. Scott “Flash” Gordon has been the head coach of the Providence Bruins for the last five seasons. Gordon, who won the 2007-08 Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach, was named head coach of the NY Islanders by GM Garth Snow. The Islanders held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon and introduced Gordon to the Long Island media. The 45-year-old Massachusetts native, Gordon, led the Providence Bruins to their second best record in team history last year, compiling an AHL best regular season record of 55-18-3-4. Providence was surprisingly upset by the Portland Pirates in the second round of the AHL playoffs.

Providence’s 1998-99 team garnered 56 regular season wins and a Calder Cup championship and was led by head coach Peter Laviollette, who ironically has already coached the Islanders himself. Laviolette was unceremoniously let go by the Isles after ownership and team management showed very little patience with the coach who rose through the ranks in similar fashion as Gordon has now. Laviolette went on to coach and win the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. I’m sure the Islanders realize the error of their ways and will give Gordon a longer leash to prove he is capable of winning on the Island. The Islanders are soon to be in a brand new arena, part of a larger project referred to as The Lighthouse on Long Island. They are trying to regain the glory and redeem the values of the great NY Islander Stanley Cup years. The future looks bright; Scott Gordon has proven he can lead young players. Scott Gordon can definitely win hockey games, the numbers are there. Scott Gordon earned this opportunity. Trust the Gordon’s Fisherman to steer the Islanders ship through the storm ahead, with help from an enthusiastic crew who can see a lighthouse and good times ahead. Good luck “Flash”.